Shinjuku Location Was Better Than Expected

#276: Learn how Chris and Amy booked four nonstop business class seats and a week at the Park Hyatt Tokyo almost entirely on points. They break down the strategy, key takeaways for traveling with kids, Chris' AI-powered trip planner, and more.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/50k-points-japan-trip

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Resources Mentioned

Flights & Award Booking

• Japan Airlines

• Finnair

• Avios

• American Airlines

• Award Tool

• Seats.aero

Hotels

• Park Hyatt Tokyo

• Hilton Tokyo Bay

• Disney Ambassador Hotel

• Airbnb

Activities

• teamLab

• KidZania

• Tokyo Disneyland

• Tokyo DisneySea

Luggage & Transportation

• Yamato Transport

• RideSafer Travel Vest

• Suica Card

• Takuhaibin Delivery Services

Technology & Planning

• Claude

• Claude Code

• Codex

• Google Maps offline

• Google Translate

• T-Mobile

Credit Cards

• Bank of America® Atmos™ Rewards Summit Visa Infinite® Credit Card

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®

• The Platinum Card® from American Express

Shopping

• Muji

• Don Quijote (Donki)

• Loft

• Takashimaya

• ARC5 PALM-Sized 5-Blade Electric Luxury Razor

• Keana Rice Pack face mask

Food & Dining

• 7-Eleven Japan

• FamilyMart

• Koffee Mameya

• Afuri Ramen

• Rokurinsha

• Mos Burger

ATH Podcast

• AMA: Submit A Question

• Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

• Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: podcast@chrishutchins.com

Full Show Notes

(00:00) Introduction

(01:59) Why Booking Business Class to Japan a Year Out Actually Works

(16:46) What Our Hyatt Points Are Worth Now — and After the Upcoming Devaluation

(20:37)  Why We Stayed in Tokyo the Entire Trip (and Why We're Glad We Did)

(25:43) Why TeamLab Should Be on Every Asia Itinerary

(26:46) How to Save on Phone Data Abroad and the Rookie Mistake to Avoid

(27:31) How We Used AI to Build a Real-Time Trip Guide Before We Even Landed

(35:58) Japan Airlines Business Class Review

(38:56) Inside the Freshly Renovated Park Hyatt Tokyo

(45:37) Is the Park Hyatt Tokyo's Location Actually a Problem?

(51:03) Did the Cherry Blossoms Live Up to the Hype?

(53:57) Why Japan's Bathrooms, Vending Machines, and Convenience Stores Are a Revelation

(56:09) Cash, Cards, and Transit: How to Pay Your Way Through Japan

(57:45) What We Learned About Traveling Tokyo with Kids

(59:19) Why Food in Japan Is Just Better (Even at 7-Eleven)

(01:00:51) KidZania Tokyo: The Best Kid Experience You've Never Heard Of

(01:05:26) Why Japan's Bag-Forwarding Service Is a Game Changer for Families

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